Cancer is a group of several connected diseases related to cells. Living beings are made of billions of cells. Normal cells go through a cycle of growth and regeneration. But when cell growth is abnormal and spreads rapidly, it results in cancer. Cancer cells can form clumps, also called tumors, which damage healthy tissues around them. This results in sickness. Some of these cancer cells separate themselves from the tumor and travel to other parts of the body, continue to grow and form new tumors, spreading the cancer. This is called metastasis.

This year the theme of World Cancer Day is “Not Beyond Us,” to emphasize that solutions exist and are reachable. The campaign’s goal is to implement what is already known in the areas of cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and care.

World Cancer Day 2015 has identified 4 main areas for education and action: